There’s not a lot of release news to report today, but we do have another BD catalog announcement for you: Warner Home Video has revealed that they’ll release American Gigolo on Blu-ray on 2/24/15.

Meanwhile, Well Go USA has set The Lookalike for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/10/15.

Universal has set Racing Hearts for Blu-ray release on 1/13/15.

The recent Maze Runner is up for BD pre-order on Amazon with an apparent release date of 12/16, but no other details are yet available.

Finally, here’s another catalog announcement: It looks as if Disney’s 101 Dalmatians: Diamond Edition can be expected to hit stores on Blu-ray on 2/10/15. You can see the cover artwork below (along with art for a couple other titles too, including the revised for Twilight Samurai from Twilight Time)...

And that’s it for this week. A very Happy (and safe) Halloween to all of you, and we’ll see you back here on Monday. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the Great Pumpkin!

We’d like to take a moment to give a hearty Bits “Huzzah!” to Jahnke for having completed his work on this year’s Fest! The final review of the season is in the can as they say, and it’s a goodun. So check back tomorrow for that. Well done, Adam! [Read on here…]

Now then... in announcement news today, Mill Creek has revealed plans to release Heartbreak Hotel and Emancipation Road on Blu-ray on 1/6/15. The latter title will also be released on DVD.

And here’s something: Warner Archive is releasing Thundercats: The Complete Series on Blu-ray Disc on 11/11. This is the 2011 reboot series, featuring all 26 episodes with Prince Lion-O and company (not the original).

I don’t think I’m alone in saying that it would be nice to see more CLASSIC animation released on Blu-ray. Personally, I’d pay serious money if Warner Archive could find a way to release the vintage Fleischer Studios Superman animated shorts on Blu-ray. The problem is that Warner Archive only really gets access to stuff that no other branch of Warner Home Video is interested in handling. But if Warner Home Video’s senior leadership has ANY BRAINS WHATSOEVER, they’d let the Archive folks get their hands on some real gems like the Fleischer Superman shorts, the classic Tex Avery shorts, and more.

Yeah... consider that The Bits throwing down the gauntlet for Warner Home Video. Attention Ron Sanders and Kevin Tsujihara! Do you guys have the cojones to step up to the plate or what? I think you do, so let’s make it happen.

We’ll leave you today with a look at the Blu-rat cover artwork for Thundercats and a couple other titles...

Back tomorrow with a new column from our own Bud Elder, the finale of the Hell Plaza Oktoberfest, and more! Stay tuned...

Just a heads-up: We’ll have Todd’s Doogan’s Queue and a new piece from View from the Cheap Seats from Bud Elder tomorrow as well.

In announcement news today, Kino Video has announced some great Blu-ray catalog titles today, including River’s Edge, The Falcon and the Snowman, Foxes, and At the Earth’s Core. All are due on 1/13/15. See the cover artwork below.

Warner Home Video has set a LEGO: Super Sweet Collection for DVD only release on 2/24/15 (SRP $32.98), including The LEGO Movie and LEGO: Batman – The Movie along with an exclusive LEGO Emmet LEDlite keychain. So there you go.

Meanwhile, Lionsgate has set the documentary Dinosaur 13 for Blu-ray and DVD release on 1/6/13.

Anderson Digital has set the Garfield Holiday Collection for release on DVD on 11/4, including Garfield Halloween Adventure, Garfield on the Town, A Garfield Christmas, A Garfield Thanksgiving, and Garfield in Paradise. SRP is $14.99 and the title will be a Walmart exclusive.

PBS Distribution has set Sand Wars for DVD only release on 12/2.

Eagle Rock Entertainment has announced the 1/13/15 Blu-ray and DVD release of the Genesis: Sum of the Parts documentary on the progressive-turned-pop rock band’s career.

And MPI has the IFC Midnight title At the Devil’s Door due on Blu-ray on 12/16, followed by The Trip to Italy on 12/23. That last one stars Steve Coogan.

Finally, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is teaming up with Gallery 1988 artists to produce new Best Buy-exclusive Steelbook cover artwork for a batch of upcoming Blu-ray releases, due on 11/23 for a limited time only. The titles include Das Boot, Desperado, District 9, Drive, Leon: The Professional, Dr. Strangelove, Easy Rider, The Fifth Element, The Karate Kid, Kung Fu Hustle, Snatch, The Raid: Redemption, Stripes, Superbad, Taxi Driver, and Tommy. Here’s what three of them look like (and you can see another above)…

We’ll leave you today with a look at the cover artwork for some of those Kino titles we mentioned above (and more), all available for pre-order on Amazon by clicking on the image…

Okay… my apologies for the lack of a daily column yesterday. I find myself unexpectedly fighting a computer problem that’s keeping me from getting a lot of regular work done. So I’ve been stuck here in the lab pulling my hair out like a mad scientist for quite a few hours. Hope to have that resolved by the end of the day today.

Meanwhile, we are not without content for you to enjoy here at The Bits today! [Read on here…]

Now then, I should have things back to normal here shortly, so we’ll return with the usual news and announcements tomorrow, along with more reviews and columns. Thanks for your patience in the meantime.

In far-off announcement news today, Scream Factory has revealed that they’re planning to release the 1988 prison/slasher film Destroyer on Blu-ray next Summer.

On that same note, Universal has announced that it’s now shooting Tremors 5 and plans to release it on Blu-ray and DVD in 2016. So even farther off. Jamie Kennedy and Michael Gross star. You’re all on pins and needles I’m sure.

In more immediate release news, Film Movement has set the historical epic Lines of Wellington for DVD release on 11/25.

Mill Creek will release Emancipation Road and Heartbreak Hotel on Blu-ray on 1/6.

Virgil Films has set Legends of the Knight for DVD and digital release on 11/18.

XLrator Media will release Gerard Johnstone’s horror film Housebound on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/18.

For you Foo Fighters fans, don’t forget there’s a new episode of Sonic Highways on HBO tonight.

Be sure to check back on Monday for my thoughts on Warner’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – Extended Edition Blu-ray and more.

And here’s a bit of silliness by Monty Python, just because...

Have a great weekend. Stay tuned!

- Bill Hunt

]]>billhunt@thedigitalbits.com (Bill Hunt)My Two CentsFri, 24 Oct 2014 11:06:05 -0700Doctor Who: S8, This Is Where I Leave You, Working Girl, The One I Love, Olive’s December & morehttp://thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/102314_1400
http://thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/102314_1400

Now then... I’m about six hours into a return to Middle-Earth with Warner’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – Extended Edition Blu-ray. But that means I’ve still got like ten hours of viewing to go. The disc has no less than TEN hours of documentary content, plus the film is over three hours (with about 25 minutes of new and extended footage) and has an audio commentary too. So I would say plan on reading my full review of the 5-disc BD set bright and early on Monday morning here at The Bits. [Read on here…]

Meanwhile, in news today, Warner Home Video has set This Is Where I Leave You for Blu-ray Combo and DVD release on 12/16. Extras will include The Narrative Voice: A Commentary with Shawn Levy and Jonathan Tropper, The Narrative Voice: A Discussion with Shawn Levy and Jonathan Tropper, The Gospel According to Rabbi Boner, Points of Departure, and deleted and extended scenes. So I think that means a commentary and three featurettes.

Scream Factory has confirmed that the British horror films Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror will be released as a double feature Blu-ray on 12/2. From the press release: “Featuring the rare, uncut version of Vault of Horror, the two disc set includes three different cuts of the cult classic. The first disc will include Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror’s uncut widescreen presentation. The second disc will include Vault of Horror’s theatrical PG cut and a rare open-matte version of the BFI master. The release also includes an original trailer and an alternate opening scene for Vault of Horror.”

Here’s a nice surprise: 20th Century Fox has set Working Girl for release on Blu-ray on 1/6/15.

BBC Home Entertainment has set Doctor Who: The Complete Eighth Series for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/9. Extras will include footage from London Post-Premiere Q&A (with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat) and episode commentaries (for Into the Dalek, Robot of Sherwood, The Caretaker, and Kill the Moon) – all exclusive to Blu-ray – plus 12 behind-the-scenes featurettes, 4 Doctor Who Exclusive featurettes, a Tour of the TARDIS, the Doctor Who: The Ultimate Time Lord and Doctor Who: The Ultimate Companion special (with Fifth Doctor Peter Davison), the Doctor Who: Earth Conquest world tour documentary, the Doctor Who: Deep Breath Live Pre-Show & After Who Live (hosted by comedian and Doctor Who superfan Chris Hardwick), and Foxes’ Don’t Stop Me Now music video.

Anchor Bay and RADiUS-TWC will release The One I Love on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/4.

Screen Media has set Young Ones for Blu-ray and DVD release on 1/13/15. The film stars Nicholas Hoult and Michael Shannon.

Dark Sky Films has set The House at the End of Time for DVD only release on 11/11.

Vinegar Syndrome has set Christmas Evil for Blu-ray Combo release on 11/18.

Finally, Olive Films has announced their December Blu-ray slate, set to include Appointment with Danger (1951), Dark City (1951), Hurry Sundown (1967), Rope of Sand (1949), Skidoo (1968), Such Good Friends (1971), Union Station (1950).

Here’s a bit of cover artwork for some of the abovementioned titles (we’ll add the Olive title links as they become available)...

Also, Tim has turned in his thoughts on Lionsgate’s Hannibal: Season One on Blu-ray (with his take on Season Two on the way). Not only is it a pretty great little series, but the Blu-ray features extras produced by our old friend Cliff Stephenson.

In terms of announcement news today, we have word that Warner Home Video has set Dolphin Tale 2 for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/9.

While we’ve been talking Scream Factory, the company has revealed plans to release both the 2002 Carrie TV movie and also the 1999 sequel to the origianal theatrical film The Rage: Carrie II. Look for them as a Blu-ray double feature release sometime next Spring.

Millennium Entertainment has set Good People for Blu-ray and DVD release on 10/28. The film stars James Franco and Kate Hudson.

Here’s a weird one: Lionsgate is releasing Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Tough Love on DVD on 1/20/15. Why is it weird? Because it’s a Tyler Perry/Madea... animated movie. No kidding.

PBS Distribution will release Ice Warriors: USA Sled Hockey on DVD only on 11/11. PBS will also release Worricker: Turks & Caicos and Worricker: Salting the Battlefield on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/18.

And finally, Discotek Media has officially set Hayao Miyazaki’s Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro – 35th Anniversary Edition for DVD only release on 12/23. But worry not – we hear that a Blu-ray release will follow early in 2015 (probably before March). In any case, you can see the DVD cover artwork below.

We’ll leave you with a look at the DVD cover art for Lupin (not available for pre-order yet on Amazon but we’ll add the link as soon as possible) and some additional Blu-ray artwork too...

Now it’s back to working on reviews. The dwarves are getting impatient. Back tomorrow. Stay tuned!

In announcement news, Shout! Factory and Timeless Media have revealed their planned release of the spaceflight cult classic Capricorn One on Blu-ray Disc on 1/13/15 (SRP $24.97). Extras will include the original theatrical trailer and a photo gallery.

Lionsgate has set Skeleton Twins for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/16. The film stars Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. Extras are actually plentiful, and include 2 audio commentaries, 2 featurettes (To Whom It May Concern: Making The Skeleton Twins and Sweet Moves), deleted scenes, outtakes, and a gag reel.

Universal will release As Above, So Below on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/2.

Anchor Bay Entertainment has set The Giver for Blu-ray Combo and DVD release on 11/25, starring Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep among others. Extras will include 6 featurettes (Jeff Bridges Presents the Original Script Reading, Making The Giver: From Page to Screen, Ordinary Human, Author Lois Lowry on The Giver, Bonus: Study Guide, and Press Conference with Filmmakers & Cast).

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has set the Hungarian film The Notebook (aka Le Grand Cahier) for DVD and digital release on 12/2. The film was directed by János Szász.

Starz and Anchor Bay will release Kite on Blu-ray Combo and DVD on 12/2.

Fox has set Jingle All the Way 2 for Blu-ray Combo and DVD release on 12/2 as well, starring Larry the Cable Guy.

And Cinema Epoch has set Samurai Cop (1991) for release on Blu-ray on 11/25, remastered from the “newly discovered” 35mm negatives. Gotta say, I love the cover art. LOL. See below.

Finally today, here’s a little something for you fans of Stanley Kubrick. The British Film Institute and Warner Bros. have commissioned a new theatrical trailer for 2001: A Space Odyssey – the first such trailer in 40 years – to celebrate the BFI’s Sci-Fi: Days of Fears and Wonder exhibition season. It is… in a word… fantastic. Watch it here. Be sure to make it BIG and HD. You’re welcome. (Thanks to Bits reader Marshall C. for the link).

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All right, here’s a bunch more Blu-ray cover artwork for some of the titles we mentioned above…

First of all, Millennium has confirmed James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge 3D for release on Blu-ray 3D combo pack and Special Collector’s Edition DVD on 11/11. The DVD package includes a 38-page book apparently.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has officially set Justified: The Complete Fifth Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/2. Extras on both versions will include deleted scenes, audio commentary on A Murder of Crowes and Restitution, and the Season of the Crowe: Making Season Five featurette. The Blu-ray will exclusively add 8 more featurettes (including The Coolest Guy in the Room, The Onion Eulogizes Elmore Leonard, The Big House: Prison Set Tour, Writer’s Diary: A Week of Starvation, Getting the Shot, Raylan Givens: Two Roads Diverge, King Lear, and The Wall of Death: Season Five Body Count).

And here’s something cool: Our friends over at Scream Factory have just announced that they’re going to be releasing Stuart Gordon’s 1989 sci-fi flick Robot Jox on Blu-ray next summer. More details will follow in the weeks and months ahead. Very cool.

In announcement news today, we have a few quick things to mention… [Read on here…]

First, BBC Home Entertainment has announced that The Intruders: Season One will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/23 (SRP $34.98 and $29.98). Extras will include the Inside the Intruders behind-the-scenes documentary (featuring interviews with John Simm, Mira Sorvino, Glen Morgan and more). You can see the cover artwork below.

Speaking of artwork, Warner’s The Majestic Blu-ray is now available for pre-order on Amazon, as are at least three of those Criterion titles announced yesterday, and you can see the cover art below as well.

CBS is releasing The Brady Bunch in individual season DVD sets exclusively at Target stores on 10/28, then more widely on 12/9. SRP will be $21.99 each.

Meanwhile, CBS has also confirmed the final list of extras that will be found on Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Seven and Star Trek: The Next Generation – All Good Things when they’re released on Blu-ray on 12/2. Season Seven will include all the previous SD extras from the DVD release, including episodic promos, 7 Archival Mission Log featurettes (Mission Overview Year Seven, A Captain’s Tribute, Departmental Briefing Year Seven: Production, Starfleet Moments and Memories, Special Profiles, Inside Starfleet Archives: Dressing the Future, and The Making of “All Good Things…”), 2 additional featurettes (Journey’s End: The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Closed Set: A Tour of the Real Enterprise), and an existing audio commentary with Brannon Braga. All new for Blu-ray will be deleted scenes (HD – from numerous episodes), a gag reel (HD), 2 new audio commentaries (featuring René Echevarria, Naren Shankar, and Mike & Denise Okuda), the In Conversation: Lensing Star Trek: The Next Generation roundtable interview documentary (HD) and the 3-part The Sky’s The Limit: The Eclipse of Star Trek: The Next Generation making of documentary (HD – includes Part One: Umbra, Part Two: Penumbra, and Part Three: Antumbra). And All Good Things will include a new audio commentary by writers Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga, the new The Unknown Possibilities of Existence: Making “All Good Things...” documentary, new deleted scenes in HD, and the original episodic promos.

And Synapse Films is releasing Demons and Demons 2 on remastered Blu-ray and DVD in “movie only” editions on 11/11 (SRP $24.95 for the BDs and $19.95 for the DVDs).

In other news today, both CBS and HBO have just announced that they’re launching Netflix-like online subscription streaming services next year. In HBO’s case especially, this is meant to address the fact that many people want to be able to enjoy popular HBO series without paying for a cable or satellite subscription, either on their computer or mobile devices. It’s no accident that HBO’s Game of Thrones, for example, is the most pirated TV series to date via Bit torrent and other such avenues. This will give people an opportunity to watch this programming legally in first run at an affordable price. More here and here at The New York Times.

Finally today, we posted this on our Facebook page, but it bears repeating here: Anchor Bay and Scream Factory have released the details on their Halloween 4 audio issue BD exchange program. Here’s the official statement:

“On behalf of Anchor Bay and Scream Factory, we want to thank everyone that has purchased the Halloween Complete Collection. We hope you are enjoying it and all the work that went into bringing it to you, the fans. Unfortunately there is an audio sync issue with Halloween 4 that has always existed on that film with every release. We attempted to fix one of the problems prior to this release but in doing so, it created sync issues elsewhere in the film, which has now come to light. For the past two weeks we have been working to fix the problems that have arisen and we have been able to fix the sync issues at the 46 minute mark. We will be issuing a replacement disc to anyone that has been affected.

If you were affected by a Halloween 4 sync issue and would like a replacement disc sent to you, please follow these instructions:

In order to receive a replacement with the first batch being sent, send an e-mail to ABEHalloween4@Starz.com no later than October 31, 2014 and include the following:

Proof of purchase (photo or scan of receipt or digital receipt from on-line retailer)

Your name

Mailing address

Your replacement disc will then be shipped to arrive no later than November 14, 2014. Thank you again for bringing Michael home.”

So there you have it. Hats off to Anchor Bay and Scream for addressing this issue promptly.

We’ll leave you with that Blu-ray cover artwork we mentioned, including Amazon pre-order links…

Speaking of Warner, the studio has also set the original CG-animated movie Justice League: Throne of Atlantis for Blu-ray Combo and DVD release on 1/27/15 (SRP $24.98). See the cover artwork below.

Also, it looks like Paramount has set the Spongebob Squarepants Movie for Blu-ray release on 12/30 (SRP $21.99).

Finally today, last night’s Terminator: 30th Anniversary screening at Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood (sponsored by the American Cinematheque and Fox Home Entertainment) would have been a great opportunity to ask director James Cameron when The Abyss and True Lies are finally going to be released on Blu-ray. As you all know full well by now, both films celebrate major anniversaries this year. Though Arnold Schwarzenegger was unable to attend the event due to illness, Cameron was on hand along with producer Gale Anne Hurd. A Q&A was held afterward moderated by Geoff Boucher from L.A. Times/Hero Complex. Short of actually being on hand myself (I couldn’t make it due to a schedule conflict), I did everything possible to ensure that Cameron was at least asked the question. Fortunately, he was. Unfortunately, no answer was forthcoming. Bits reader Jeremy W. (who was there at the screening) reports that during the Q&A, Cameron apparently said the first question Gale Anne Hurd asked him when they met earlier in the evening was “When is Abyss coming on BD?” In response, Cameron pointed the head of Fox Home Entertainment out in the crowd. And that was it. So it sounds as if the delay in releasing both titles sits on Fox alone. (Cameron seems to want us to think that at any rate: Fox isn’t commenting thus far.) Honestly, does anyone else think this is starting to get ridiculous? We’ll have more to say on this topic soon, rest assured.

All right, we’ll leave you today with a look at some new Blu-ray cover artwork – those Criterion titles and more (we’ll add Amazon pre-order links as soon as they’re available)...

In announcement news today, 20th Century Fox has set The November Man for Blu-ray and DVD release on 11/15. The films stars Pierce Brosnan. That’s followed by the Fox Searchlight titles Calvary and I Origins on 12/9. The November Man seems to have no extras. Calvary will include 4 featurettes (Behind the Scenes, The Role of a Good Priest, A Matter of Faith, and A Father & His Daughter). I Origins will include deleted scenes, 2 featurettes (A Window to the Soul and The Origins of Connectedness), an image gallery, and the film’s trailer.

Fox has also set The Simpsons: The Seventeenth Season for 3-disc Blu-ray release on 12/2 (SRP $59.99).

Here’s something for fans of director James Cameron… no, not The Abyss and True Lies sadly, but Millennium Entertainment has announced the Blu-ray 3D release of James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge 3D on 11/11. There will be a Blu-ray 3D Combo and a single disc DVD versions available (SRP $24.99 each).

Meanwhile, Anchor Bay and The Weinstein Company have set Frank Miller’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For for release on Blu-ray 3D Combo and DVD on 11/18 (SRP $39.99 and $29.98).

Paramount has officially set Richard Linklater’s Boyhood for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/6/15.

And finally, Cinedigm has set the anime title Welcome to the Space Show for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/11. I’m kind of looking forward to this one. I’ve heard it described as ‘Ghibli-esque.’

Speaking of Studio Ghibli, the studio’s latest animated feature film, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, is going to start its limited run in theaters in the U.S. on Friday (10/17). It’s supposedly director Isao Takahata last film and has been getting very strong reviews thus far.

All right, here’s a whole bunch of cover artwork (with Amazon pre-order links if available) for the titles mentioned above, along with the just released final artwork for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

Now then... in announcement news today, here’s something interesting: Universal has set Charlie Wilson’s War, The Constant Gardner, and The Good Shepherd for Blu-ray release on 1/6/15. All should contain the same extras that were on the previous DVD releases.

Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox has just officially announced The Strain: The Complete First Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/2, followed by The Americans: The Complete Second Season on 12/16. Disappointingly, The Americans is a DVD only release. Let me just say what you’re all thinking: LAME! Features on The Strain will include 3 featurettes (In the Beginning, A Novel Approach, and Setrakian’s Lair). The Strain will include deleted scenes, a gag reel, and 2 featurettes (Operation Ghost Stories: The Real Directorate ‘S’ and Shades of Red: The Mortality of the Americans).

Well Go USA Entertainment has set Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/9. It will include the international version of the film.

Finally today, Twilight Time has released special features details and cover artwork on a number of their upcoming Blu-ray titles, due to street on 11/11 (pre-orders on Screen Archives Entertainment open up on Wednesday, 10/22 at 1 PM Pacific). Specific titles and extras include: Birdman of Alcatraz (includes an isolated score track, audio commentary with film historians Julie Kirgo, Paul Seydor and Nick Redman, and the theatrical trailer), Bunny Lake Is Missing (includes an isolated score track, audio commentary with film historians Julie Kirgo, Lem Dobbs and Nick Redman, and original theatrical trailers), Flaming Star (includes an isolated score track, audio commentary with film historians Lem Dobbs and Nick Redman, and original theatrical trailers), Judgment at Nuremberg (includes an isolated music & effects track, 3 featurettes (In Conversation with Abby Mann and Maximilian Schell, The Value of a Single Human Being, and A Tribute to Stanley Kramer), and the theatrical trailer), The Twilight Samurai (includes an isolated score track and original theatrical trailers), and When the Wind Blows (includes an isolated music & effects track, audio commentary with first assistant editor Joe Fordham and film historian Nick Redman, and 2 featurettes (The Wind and the Bomb: The Making of When the Wind Blows and An Interview with Raymond Briggs).

We’ll leave you today with a bunch of new cover artwork for some of the titles mentioned above…

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

In announcement news today, Warner Home Video has moved the street date for its Batman: 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray to 12/9 (from 11/11). Keep in mind, the only new feature on this disc is the Batman: The Birth of the Modern Blockbuster featurette. [Read on here…]

Meanwhile, Universal has set The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power for Blu-ray and DVD release on 1/20 (with a digital release set for 1/6). Extras will include deleted scenes, a gag reel, and 3 featurettes (Real Fighters, Fake Punches, A Brand New World, and Great Chemistry).

Universal has also set the documentary I Am Ali for Blu-ray and DVD on 11/11.

Shout! Factory is releasing Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V , a double-feature of Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring on Blu-ray on 1/27/15, with On Golden Pond set for BD on 1/20, and Supernova, Fitzcarraldo, and the Scream label title Phantom of the Opera (starring Robert Englund) for BD on 1/13. Scream also has Candyman II: Farewell to the Flesh set for BD on 1/6.

20th Century Fox has set And So It Goes for Blu-ray and DVD release on 11/18, with a digital release due on 11/4. The only extra is a theatrical trailer for the film.

Sony has set When the Game Stands Tall on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/9, with a digital release set for 11/25.

Lionsgate has set Wings: Sky Force Heroes, 7 Assassins, and Sanatorium for DVD release on 12/23.

HBO will release Banshee: The Complete Second Season on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/30.

Cinema Libre Studio has set the Citizen Autistic documentary for DVD only release on 10/14.

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

Today’s update is a quick one, as there’s not a great deal of news to report this afternoon...

In announcement news, Warner Home Video has set The Frank Darabont Blu-ray Collection for release on 2/24/15 (SRP $29.99). Included will be the new The Green Mile: 15th Anniversary Edition, along with The Shawshank Redemption and – for the first time on Blu-ray – The Majestic.

Also, Disney has now officially announced the 11/11 Blu-ray and DVD release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Lost Missions. Extras will include a new 16-minute featurette covering all six seasons of the show, along with 4 additional story reels from The Lost Missions season.

And that’s all she wrote for this week. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting cover artwork for upcoming titles, along with the Frank Darabont art (that title is not yet available for pre-order on Amazon but the link will be added as soon as it is)...

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

Speaking of which, I’m told that a BD replacement program will be announced soon for the Halloween 4 disc in the set that has an audio sync problem. We’ll give you the details as soon as Anchor Bay and Scream make them official. [Read on here…]

In announcement news today, Shout! Factory has announced the DVD only release of The Facts of Life: The Complete Series on 1/13/15. All 201 episodes will be includes on 26 discs, along with a disc of bonus features including the Diff’rent Strokes episode debuting Mrs. Garrett and the girls of Eastlake Academy, 2 TV movies (The Facts of Life Goes to Paris and The Facts of Life Down Under), 2 featurettes (Remembering The Facts of Life and After The Facts), a Know The Facts trivia game, and video of the 2014 Paley Center cast reunion.

Lionsgate has announced that they’re expanding their distribution agreement with Miramax Home Entertainment to include an additional 250 titles (making the complete agreement worth over 700 titles in all). From the press release: “New additions to the library include Robert Rodriguez’s renowned From Dusk Till Dawn, iconic horror properties such as Dracula, The Faculty and franchise titles from The Prophecy, Halloween and Children of the Corn, prestige titles including Marvin’s Room with Leonardo DiCaprio and Meryl Streep, The Shipping News starring Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore, The Grifters, Her Majesty Mrs. Brown, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, Dirty Pretty Things and Fresh as well as family titles including the Pokemon franchise, among others.”

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

Sorry for the quick post today. Some portion of the Interweb upon which The Bits resides has apparently been subject to a denial of service attack from Chinese hackers today, which has meant that access tothe site’s been spotty all afternoon.

You’d be surprised how often this kind of thing happens online. Ah, the Interweb...

Anyway, we have a trio of Blu-ray reviews for you this afternoon. [Read on here…]

In announcement news today, Lionsgate has set The Expendables 3: Unrated Edition for release on Blu-ray Combo and DVD on 11/25. Extras will include The Expendables 3 documentary, 2 featurettes (New Blood: Stacked and Jacked and The Total Action Package), an extended scene, and a gag reel. You’ll find the cover artwork below.

And our own Michael Coate would like you all to know that, according to a preview trailer on Disney’s new Sleeping Beauty: Diamond Edition Blu-ray, the next classic animated title due to get Diamond treatment from the studio (sometime in early 2015) is 101 Dalmatians.

Here’s a look at the cover art for The Expendables 3 (both versions) and also Disney’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Lost Missions, which just went up for pre-order on Amazon (on BD and DVD) with a street date of 11/11...

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

Now then, not a lot of announcement news thus far today, but we do have a couple things to report...

First, Syfy and Universal have set Continuum: The Complete Third Season and Dominion: The Complete First Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/23.

Millennium will release Reach Me on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/30, starring Sylvester Stallone and Kelsey Grammer. That same day, Millennium will release Elsa & Fred, starring Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer. The studio also has Automata set for release on 11/18, starring Antonio Banderas.

Magnolia has set The Hero of Color City for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/2.

And Michel Gondry’s Mood Indigo is due on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/11 from Cinedigm.

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

In announcement news, really the biggest bit of news isn’t actually disc related. Well, at least not YET anyway. David Lynch, Mark Frost, and Showtime have announced that they’re bringing Twin Peaks back to TV as a 9-episode Showtime limited series in 2016. Every episode will be directed by Lynch personally. Here’s the official “announcement” trailer...

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I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised given how supportive CBS has been of the Blu-ray release. Makes perfect sense. I’m not sure that the show needs a continuation, but that’s how such things go these days, so best that the original creators are directly involved. Fingers crossed it will meet expectations.

In title announcement news today, Warner Home Video has set Into the Storm for Blu-ray, DVD, and digital release on 11/18 (SRP $35.99 and $28.98 for the discs). Extras will include a trio of featurettes (Into the Storm: Tornado Files, Titus: The Ultimate Chasing Vehicle, and Fake Storms: Real Conditions).

Anchor Bay and Starz have set Black Sails: The Complete First Season for Blu-ray, DVD, and digital release on 1/6/15 (SRP $59.99 and $49.98 for the discs). All 8 episodes will be included, along with 6 featurettes (Black Sails: A Look Inside, Dress to Kill, Pirate Camp, Folklore Is Finished: Pirate Politics, A Place in History, and Building the Behemoth).

And here’s something awesome: Our friends at Twilight Time have announced their anticipated Blu-ray release slate for November and December, as well as January and February of 2015, and it includes some real gems. On 11/11, look for Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), When the Wind Blows (1986 – with Jimmy Murakami: Non-Alien – 2010), Flaming Star (1960), Bunny Lake is Missing (1965), and one of my all-time favorites, The Twilight Samurai (2002). On 12/9, look for Yentl (1983), Funny Lady (1975), Inherit the Wind (1960), Heaven and Earth (1993), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1968), and The Fortune (1975). On 1/20, look for The Bride Wore Black (1968), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Breaking Away (1979), a Fright Night: 30th Anniversary Special Edition (1985), and Bandit Queen (1994). On 2/10, watch for Lenny (1974), Love and Death (1975), The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (1967), Stormy Weather (1943), and To Sir, with Love (1967). Finally, on 2/24, look for Zardoz (1974). THAT... is a terrific slate of catalog titles. Absolutely something for everyone, including some rare gems and cult classics.

Now then... we also have today an updated statement from Criterion on their potentially defective discs situation. Here’s the deal...

“We have confirmed that certain Blu-ray discs pressed at a replication facility that we used for a period in 2010 have become defective, showing a noticeable bronze discoloration on the underside and developing playback problems. We have confirmed the problem on seven titles, but not on all copies. All of these titles have since been re-pressed at a different pressing plant, and the vast majority of discs in circulation should not be affected.

If you have found that your Blu-ray copy of one of these titles does not play, please send your disc in to the following address for a replacement: Jon Mulvaney – The Criterion Collection, 215 Park Avenue South, 5th floor, New York, NY 10003

Please include only your disc – no packaging – along with the address to which you’d like us to mail your replacement. We will not be replacing or exchanging packaging. There is no need to email us in addition. If we learn that other titles are similarly defective, we will add them to the list and continue to replace them as well. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

So there you have it. If they add more discs to this list, we’ll keep you updated.

Finally today, we’ve have some new BD cover artwork for you to check out (with Amazon.com pre-order links as always) including a look at FUNimation’s regular Cowboy Bebop: The Complete Series BD packaging. Here you go...

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

The big announcement news today is that Disney has officially set Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy for Blu-ray 3D Combo, Blu-ray Combo and DVD release on 12/9, with a digital release on 11/18. Extras on the Blu-ray versions are still vague based on the studio’s press release, but will include deleted scenes, audio commentary with the filmmakers, a number of “making of” featurettes, a gag reel, and an exclusive look at Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron. You can see the cover artwork below. [Read on here…]

Also today, Disney and Touchstone have set Lasse Hallström’s The Hundred-Foot Journey for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/2. Extras on the Blu-ray will include 4 featurettes (The Hundred-Foot Journey with Steven Spielberg & Oprah Winfrey, The Recipe, The Ingredients, The Journey, On Set with Oprah Winfrey, and Coconut Chicken). Again, you’ll find the Blu-ray artwork below.

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

In announcement news today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and CBS Films have set What If for Blu-ray, DVD and digital release on 11/15. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe. Extras on the Blu-ray only include 3 deleted scenes and 4 featurettes (Blurred Lines, Opposites Attract, Behind the Scenes of What If, and A Modern Love Story). [Read on here…]

And just a quick update on the Criterion Blu-ray issue. We’re still awaiting further details, but Criterion has been issuing this statement to those who inquire about it:

“Thank you for writing in regarding a discoloration and playability problem with one or more of your Criterion discs. We are aware of this issue, which appears to affect a number of titles pressed four or five years ago at a pressing plant that we no longer use, and we are currently working on a solution. Please be assured that we are dedicated to your satisfaction and will be replacing defective discs. As soon as we have a system in place to handle exchanges efficiently, we will send out a link with instructions on how to receive replacement discs. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through this issue. All the best and thanks for supporting Criterion!”

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

Today’s update is a quick one, as I was up pretty late working on Bits-related stuff for the site.

Meanwhile today, Lionsgate has officially announced the 11/4 Blu-ray and DVD release of Anton Corbijn’s A Most Wanted Man (STP $29.99 and $26.98). The film stars the late Philip Seymour Hoffman and is an adaptation of a novel by John le Carré. Extras on the Blu-ray will include a pair of featurettes (The Making of A Most Wanted Man and Spymaster: John le Carré in Hamburg).

Paramount has also announced the Blu-ray 3D Combo, Blu-ray and DVD release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on 11/25 (SRP $52.99, $39.99 and $29.99). Extras will include 7 featurettes (Digital Reality, In Your Face! The Turtles in 3D, It Ain’t Easy Being Green, Evolutionary Mash-Up, Turtle Rock, and The Making of Shell Shocked), along with an extended ending, and the Shell Shocked music video.

Also today, Warner Home Video has set The Replacements, starring Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman, for Blu-ray release on 1/27/15.

Finally today, we’ve been made aware that there MAY be an issue with some Criterion Blu-ray titles released back in 2010. We’ve contacted Criterion for confirmation and if this turns out to be true we’ll get back to you in the next few days with details.

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for great Blu-ray, DVD and film discussion with other readers and for live updates on your mobile device when new content is posted here!]

The big announcement news today is that 20th Century Fox has set Dawn of the Planet of the Apes for Blu-ray 3D Combo, Blu-ray Combo, and DVD release on 12/2, with the digital release set for 11/11. Extras on both Blu-ray versions will include audio commentary by director Matt Reeves, deleted scenes with optional commentary by Reeves, 8 documentary featurettes (Journey to Dawn, Andy Serkis: Rediscovering Caesar, Humans and Apes: The Cast of Dawn, The World of Dawn, The Ape Community, Move Like an Ape: An Artist’s Medium, Weta and Dawn, and The Fight for a New Dawn), plus 4 photo galleries. Of course, there will also be a Planet of the Apes: Ceasar’s Warrior Collection that includes Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and the previous Rise of the Planet of the Apes. You can see the cover artwork below.

Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Classics has set Woody Allen’s Magic in the Moonlight for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/16. The film stars Colin Firth and Eileen Atkins. Extras will include the Behind the Magic featurette and On the Red Carpet: Los Angeles Film Premiere video.

Sony has also set the football films When the Game Stands Tall on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/9.

Time Life and StarVista Entertainment have announced that they’re going to release The Wonder Years: Season One on DVD on 10/7, thus splitting the existing (and now available for $249.95) Complete Series box into individual seasons for a more affordable purchase (just $19.95).

By the way, a quick update on Anchor Bay and Weinstein’s Begin Again, which we announced yesterday is coming on 10/28. The disc will include The Making of Begin Again featurette and music videos (including Adam Levine’s Lost Stars).

In other news, it’s been brought to our attention that there’s an audio sync issue on Anchor Bay and Scream Factory’s new Halloween: The Complete Collection box set, which affects Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. Here’s their official statement: “Anchor Bay and Scream Factory are digging deeper into the audio-sync issue of H4. Please stay tuned and we’ll update you with any news as soon as we can…” We have no doubt that they will.

For those of you eagerly awaiting the Blu-ray release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Lost Missions (coming soon from Disney), a retail source sent over a sneak peek at the cover artwork. You’ll find that below.

And finally today, Netflix has announced that it’s going to begin production on its first original feature film – a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Set to be released in IMAX and 2015, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend will also be available at the same time on Netflix for streaming customers. Star Michele Yeoh will return for the sequel. More here at Home Media.

Now… before we go… this is the final day of September. That means Jahnke’s annual Hell Plaza Oktoberfest begins tomorrow here at The Bits! Each weekday for the entire month of October, Adam will review a new horror or Halloween-related Blu-ray or DVD here at the site. It’s going to be a lot of fun, so be sure to check back in the morning.

We’ll leave you with some of that cover artwork we promised (along with Amazon links if available)…

Well folks, we hope you all had a nice Halloween… and we sure hope you all enjoyed this year’s Hell Plaza Oktoberfest. Dr. Jahnke and the rest of The Bits team pulled out all the stops to make it a goodun for you all, so there you go. We sure appreciate your readership.

Now then, today’s update is going to be a quick news roundup from the last couple days, and then we expect to be back next week with more reviews, including a couple titles you guys have probably been waiting for, including Warner’s Man of Steel and New Line’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Extended Edition among others. [Read on here…]

Meanwhile today, our friend Don May, Jr. of Synapse Films has announced that Synapse has licensed the rights to – and will be releasing on Blu-ray and DVD – Dario Argento’s masterful 1977 Italian horror classic Suspiria. From the press release, they’re working with ‘Technicolor Rome and Technicolor Los Angeles to create an all-new high-definition 2K scan from the original negative for a possible 2014-15 video release. “It’s important to spend as much time as possible to create the definitive high-definition home video version for the fans,” May explains. “We’re going to take our time with this one.” The film scanning will be coordinated and supervised by Technicolor Hollywood’s Director of Restoration Services, Tom Burton, whose film restoration credits include Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, Georges Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Final specifications, retail pricing, and extras for the Synapse Films release of Suspiria will be announced closer to the as yet to be determined release date.’ To which we say: Rarin’! Great news indeed.

Also, Warner Home Video has set Scooby-Doo and The Vampires for DVD release on 1/14/14, followed by DCU: Justice League: War for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/4/14, and Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map! and Dallas: The Complete Second Season for DVD only release on 2/11/14.

Our friends at Warner Archive have also a announced a few new titles on MOD DVD, including The Adventures of Superboy: The Complete Fourth Season (1991-92), The Half Naked Truth (1932), The Nuisance (1933), Turn Back the Clock (1933), HBO’s bin Laden documentary Manhunt (2013) and also Peter Weir’s Fearless (1993) on Blu-ray.

Sony has announced another batch of Manufactured on Demand DVD titles for release on 1/7/14, including Firefighter, The Pirates of Blood River, Affair in Trinidad, Lady by Choice, Lost and Found, Monsieur Ibrahim, The Miami Story, Never Take Candy from a Stranger, The Crimson Kimono and Trail of the Rustlers.

Paramount has set a Pain and Gain: Special Collector’s Edition for release on Blu-ray on 12/3, thought no word yet on what new content may be on it.

Shout! Factory will release a Night of the Demons: Collector’s Edition on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/4, along with a Witchboard Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Night will include a new commentary with director Kevin Tenney and actors Cathy Podewell, Hal Havins, Billy Gallo and FX artist Steve Johnson, new interviews with Tenney, writer/producer Joe Augustyn and actress Linnea Quigley, another commentary With Tenney, executive producer Walter Josten and producer Jeff Geoffray, a promo reel, video and theatrical trailers, TV and radio spots, and still galleries. Witchboard will include new audio commentary with writer/director Kevin Tenney and actors Stephen Nichols, James W. Quinn and Kathleen Wilhoite, a second commentary with Tenney, executive producer Walter Josten and producer Jeff Geoffray, new interviews with Tenney, actors Tawny Kitaen, J.P. Luebsen and James Quinn, The Making of Witchboard featurette, a still gallery, the trailer and TV spots.

Eagle Rock Entertainment has set George Thorogood & The Destroyers: Live at Montreux 2013 for release on Blu-ray, DVD and CD on 11/19.

Magnolia Entertainment will release the comedy Drinking Buddies on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/3.

Visual Entertainment has set The Mod Squad: The Complete Collection (1968-73) and Diagnosis Murder: The Complete Series (1993-2001) for DVD release on 11/12.

For those of you with all-region players (and you UK readers), Network and The British Film Institute have set the cult sci-fi classic The Brain Machine for DVD release on 11/4 (SRP £9.99). By the way, we’re going to try to report on more great U.K. releases that American BD and DVD fans may be interested in, so if you hear of any we should mention drop us an e-mail.

MVD Entertainment has set Here’s Edie: The Edie Adams Television Collection DVD box set for release on 11/19.

And Image will release Galactic Adventures: 3D Sun/Mars 3D on Blu-ray 3D on 12/3 (SRP $24.98). Note that the disc will work on BOTH regular Blu-ray players and Blu-ray 3D players.

We’ll leave you today with a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for Paramount’s Pain and Gain: Special Collector’s Edition, Scream’s Witchboard and Night of the Demons, Lionsgate’s Buffalo 66 (due 1/14), Magnolia’s Drinking Buddies and Criterion’s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (due 1/21)…

About a month ago, I received an anonymous package. Well, anonymous except for The Digital Bits logo in the return address and a single word scrawled across the side: “GLUTTONY”.

“What’s in the box?” I yelled out loud to nobody in particular. I opened it and was horrified by its contents. It was full of DVDs and Blu-rays, all horror movies. Oh, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s severed head, which I thought was kind of odd. [...]

Despite the fact that I’m just a week away from retirement, I’ve been watching those discs, searching them for clues that might lead me to the sender. I haven’t turned anything up yet but I’ll be reporting on what I find throughout the month of October. These aren’t reviews. They’re police reports. And believe me, this isn’t going to have a happy ending. I’m calling this case…